Due to Ed's inspiration and our very good luck that he was available, we spent the most interesting day of the trip with Peter Jones of Ronda, an internationally known bird researcher and guide. Peter took us along obscure country roads to impossibly beautiful sights.
Thanks to him we saw dozens of griffon vultures, a territorial Bonelli's eagle fiercely challenging soaring vultures who might like to claim her spring nest, many other birds, and ibex. We drove up a simple dirt track superseding an old drovers' road past ancient oak trees pruned by those drovers for abundant acorns to fatten pigs being brought to market, and through rough and stark limestone hills. We ate a hearty lunch at a local village restaurant where he knew the owners and patrons well enough, with fluent enough Spanish, for some friendly ribbing and a warm welcome.
"Bar Stop- Benaoján Estación: On the right hand corner opposite the station down in the ‘Station’ area below the village. More of a restaurant than a bar, this is very popular and has a large outside patio as well as an air-conditioned interior. Great food, simply prepared and well priced."
